Cartridge

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a disc cartridge for a changer having a compact size and a high strength. In a disc cartridge accommodating a plurality of disc trays within an opening portion and structured such that each of disc trays is held by guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of a cartridge case, the cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having guide ribs. The respective members are integrally connected in accordance with a fitting operation utilizing a fitting means formed between the upper case and the right and left side plates and between the lower case and the right and left side plates, in an opening portion side than a center portion of the cartridge case. The respective members are integrally connected in accordance with a thread fastening, in a depth side than the center portion of the cartridge case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cartridge for a changer structured such that a plurality of information recording mediums are accommodated within a cartridge case or a plurality of trays each loading the information recording medium are accommodated within the cartridge, and more particularly to an assembling structure of the cartridge case.

2. Description of Related Art

In conventional, there has been proposed a cartridge for a changer structured such that a plurality of trays loading information recording mediums are accommodated within one cartridge case, and used in a state of being detachably installed to a drive apparatus (refer, for example, to patent document 1 (JP-A-2000-40324)).

In the cartridge described in the patent document 1, since the cartridge case is integrally and inseparably formed, however, it is necessary to be provided with an energizing means, a lock bar and the like for stably holding a tray within the cartridge case, it is impossible to actually form the cartridge case as an integrally inseparable structure or it is extremely hard to produce it. Accordingly, with regard to the cartridge for the changer, it is required to develop an assembling structure of a cartridge case which is provided with a necessary function and is easily assembled.

In this case, as a conventionally known general assembling structure of a cartridge case for accommodating information mediums, there are a thread fastening system (for example, a 5-inch MO cartridge) in which a cartridge case is constituted by an upper case and a lower case, and a plurality of positions at least including four corners of the upper case and the lowercase are fastened by screws, an ultrasonic depositing system (for example, a DVD-RAM cartridge) in which abutting faces of the upper case and the lower case are deposited by an ultrasonic wave, and a snap connecting system (for example, an LTO tape cartridge) in which locking pawls 102 are provided in a hanging manner at four corner portions of an upper case 101, engagement holes 104 capable of engaging the locking pawls 102 therewith are formed at four corner portions of a lower case 103, and the upper case and the lower case are integrated by snap fitting the locking pawls 102 with the engagement holes 104, as shown in FIG. 36. These assembling structures can be applied to the cartridge for the changer. In this case, in accordance with the thread fastening system, it is possible to firmly connect the upper case and the lower case and it is possible to obtain a cartridge case having a high strength. Further, in accordance with the ultrasonic depositing system and the snap connecting system, since a special space for joining the upper case and the lower case is not required in an opening portion side of the cartridge case, it is possible to make the cartridge relatively compact in comparison with the case of employing the thread fastening system.

However, the cartridge for the changer takes the information recording medium or the tray in which the information recording medium is loaded in and out through an opening portion. Accordingly, in the case that the thread fastening system is employed as the assembling structure of the cartridge case, and the thread fastening is executed in the portion closer to the opening portion than the center portion of the cartridge case, a width of the opening portion is limited by a space for the thread fastening. As a result, there is generated a problem that a width of the cartridge case is necessarily enlarged.

On the other hand, since the cartridge for the changer has a large size and a heavy weight, a high strength is required. However, it is impossible to connect the upper case and the lower case at a high strength in accordance with the ultrasonic deposition, and the connection between the upper case and the lower case is easily broken at a time when an impact force is applied by a drop or the like. As a result, there is generated a problem that the information recording medium tends to be damaged.

Further, in the case that the snap connecting system is employed as the assembling structure of the cartridge case, it is necessary that the locking pawl 102 is provided in a hanging manner in the abutting face of a peripheral wall 101 a constituting the upper case 101 to the lower case 103, a thin portion 103 for inside inserting the locking pawl 102 is formed in the abutting face of a peripheral wall 103 a constituting the lower case 103 to the upper case 101, and an engagement hole 104 of the locking pawl 102 is provided in the thin portion 103 b, as is apparent from FIG. 36. Accordingly, the thicknesses of the peripheral walls 101 a and 103 a become large. As a result, there is generated a problem that a flat surface size of the cartridge case is enlarged.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made by solving the problems of the prior arts mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for a changer having a compact size and a high strength.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cartridge comprising:

a cartridge case having an opening portion;

a plurality of information recording mediums or a plurality of trays each loading the information recording medium which are accommodated within the cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through the opening portion; and

the plurality of information mediums or trays being held by guide ribs which are formed in an inner side surface of the cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch,

wherein the cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having the guide ribs, the respective members are integrally connected in a portion closer to the opening portion than a center portion of the cartridge in accordance with a fitting operation utilizing a fitting means formed between the upper case and upper ends of the right and left side plates, and between the lower case and lower ends of the right and left side plates, and the respective members are integrally connected in a depth side than the center portion of the cartridge case in accordance with a thread fastening.

As mentioned above, since the cartridge case is constituted by the upper case, the lower case and the right and left side plates, and the respective members are integrally connected in the portion closer to the opening portion than the center portion of the cartridge in accordance with the fitting operation utilizing the fitting means formed between the upper case and the upper ends of the right and left side plates, and between the lower case and the lower ends of the right and left side plates, it is possible to integrally connect the respective members without arranging any member for connection such as a screw or the like in a front face of the opening portion. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a downsizing of the cartridge case. Further, since the respective members are integrally connected in the depth side than the center portion of the cartridge case in accordance with the thread fastening, it is possible to firmly connect the respective members. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a high strength of the cartridge case.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, in the cartridge having the structure mentioned above, the upper case has a top plate constituting an upper face of the cartridge case, the lower case has a bottom plate constituting a lower surface of the cartridge case, a top plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of the top plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of the top plate, a bottom plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of the bottom plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of the bottom plate, and a side plate side fitting means fitting to the top plate side fitting means and the bottom plate side fitting means is formed predetermined portions of the right and left side plates, and the upper case, the lower case and the right and left side plates are integrally connected in accordance with a slide fitting.

As mentioned above, since the top plate side fitting means of the bottom plate side fitting means having the thinner thickness than the thickness of the top plate or the bottom plate is formed in the end faces in both the right and left sides of the top plate constituting the upper case and the bottom plate constituting the lower case, the side plate side fitting means fitting to the top plate side fitting means or the bottom plate side fitting means is formed in the predetermined portions of the side plates, and the upper case, the lower case and the right and left side plates are integrally connected by slide fitting the top plate side fitting means to the side plate side fitting means and slide fitting the bottom plate side fitting means to the side plate side fitting means, the respective members can be firmly connected without increasing the thicknesses of the upper case, the lower case and the side plates as is different from the case of employing the snap connecting system. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a downsizing of the cartridge case.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, in the cartridge having the structure mentioned above, the structure is made such that a shutter opening and closing the opening portion is provided in a front end portion of the cartridge case.

As mentioned above, since the shutter for opening and closing the opening portion is provided in the front end portion of the cartridge case, it is possible to prevent a foreign material from making an intrusion into the cartridge case. Accordingly, it is possible to improve a long-term keeping quality of the information recording medium accommodated within the cartridge case.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, since the cartridge case is constituted by the upper case, the lower case and the right and left side plates, the respective members are integrally connected in the portion closer to the opening portion than the center portion of the cartridge in accordance with the fitting operation utilizing the fitting means formed between the upper case and the right and left side plates, and between the lower case and the right and left side plates, and the respective members are integrally connected in the depth side than the center portion of the cartridge case in accordance with the thread fastening, it is possible to integrally connect the respective members without arranging any member for connection such as a screw or the like in a front face of the opening portion, wherein it is possible to achieve a downsizing of the cartridge case, and it is possible to firmly connect the respective members, whereby it is possible to achieve a high strength of the cartridge case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cartridge at a time when it is not used;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cartridge at a time when it is used;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an upper case;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view as seen from a front end side of the upper case;

FIG. 6 is a bottom elevational view of the upper case;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a lower case;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view as seen from a front end side of the lower case;

FIG. 9 is a bottom elevational view of the lower case;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view as seen from an inner surface side of a left side plate;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view as seen from a front end side of the left side plate;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view as seen from a rear end side of the left side plate;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the left side plate;

FIG. 14 is a bottom elevational view of the left side plate;

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view as seen from an inner surface side of a right side plate;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view as seen from a rear end side of the right side plate;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view as seen from a front end side of the right side plate;

FIG. 18 is a plan view of the right side plate;

FIG. 19 is a bottom elevational view of the right side plate;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an assembling method of the left side plate and the right side plate with respect to an assembled body of the upper case and the lower case;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of a main portion showing an assembled state of the left side plate with respect to the upper case and the lower case and an accommodated state of a disc tray within a cartridge case;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a disc tray;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing a dimensional relation between the disc tray and a guide rib;

FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view of a portion A in FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view of a portion B in FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view as seen from a flat surface direction showing the accommodated state of the disc tray within the cartridge case;

FIG. 27 is a cross sectional view of a main portion as seen from a front end direction showing the accommodated state of the disc tray within the cartridge case;

FIG. 28 is a cross sectional view of a main portion showing an effect of an inverse slope portion;

FIG. 29 is a front elevational view as seen from a lower side of a shutter;

FIG. 30 is a front elevational view of a shutter lock member;

FIG. 31 is a side elevational view of the shutter lock member;

FIG. 32 is an explanatory view showing an opening and closing operation of the shutter;

FIG. 33 is an explanatory view showing the opening and closing operation of the shutter;

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of a disc tray in accordance with the other embodiment;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a cross sectional view of a main portion explaining a snap connecting system between the upper case and the lower case; and

FIG. 37 is a perspective vie of a cartridge using a cartridge case integrally formed in a state in which the upper and lower cases are connected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A description will be given below of an embodiment in which an information recording medium accommodated in a cartridge in accordance with the present invention is constituted by in information recording disc.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a disc cartridge in accordance with the present embodiment is constituted by a box-shaped cartridge case 1 having an opening portion 1 a in one side surface, a shutter 2 attached to the cartridge case 1 so as to freely swirl and opening and closing the opening portion 1 a, a shutter lock member 3, a plurality of disc trays 4 accommodated so as to freely come in and out an inner portion of the cartridge case 1 through the opening portion 1 a, a plurality of information recording discs 5 mounted on the respective disc trays 4 one by one, a management memory apparatus set within the cartridge case 1, a first shutter spring 7 provided in a tensional manner between the cartridge case 1 and the shutter 2, and a second shutter spring 8 provided in a tensional manner between the cartridge case 1 and the shutter lock member 3.

The cartridge case 1 is formed as a box shape of a desired magnitude having the opening portion 1 a in one side by an upper case 11, a lower case 12, a left side plate 13 and a right side plate 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the members 11, 12, 13 and 14 is constituted by an injection molded produce of a plastic.

The upper case 11 is formed as a shape structuring an upper half of the cartridge case 1 by an approximately quadrangular top plate 21 having step portions 21 a in both right and left sides of a front end portion (a side in which the opening portion 1 a is formed), and partition walls 22 hanged down from both right and left side lines except a forward portion than the step portions 21 a of the top plate 21 and a rear line and having a fixed height, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. A fitting projection 23 for fitting front end upper portions of the side plates 13 and 14 are provided in an end surface portion in a front side of the step portion 21 a of the top plate 21 so as to be protruded outward. On the other hand, two ribs 24 and 25 are formed in parallel in an inner surface of the top plate 21 so as to be spaced at an interval capable of inserting the left side plate 13 and an interval capable of inserting the right side plate 14 respectively with respect to the partition walls 22 hanged down from both the right and left side lines of the top plate 21, and projections 26 and 27 for temporarily fastening the respective side plates 13 and 14 are provided in a protruding manner in portions facing to rear ends of the respective ribs 24 and 25. Further, a boss 28 having a thread hole is provided in a protruding manner in a rear end corner portion of the inner surface of the top plate 21. Further, a setting portion 29 of the management memory apparatus 6 is formed in an inner surface of the partition wall 22 hanged down from the rear line of the top plate 21.

The lower case 12 is formed as a shape structuring a lower half of the cartridge case 1 by an approximately quadrangular bottom plate 31 having step portions 31 a in both right and left sides of a front end portion, and partition walls 32 risen up from both right and left side lines except a forward portion than the step portions 31 a of the bottom plate 31 and a rear line and having a fixed height, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. A fitting projection 33 for fitting front end lower portions of the side plates 13 and 14 are provided in an end surface portion in a front side of the step portion 31 a of the bottom plate 31 so as to be protruded outward. On the other hand, two ribs 34 and 35 are formed in parallel in an inner surface of the bottom plate 31 so as to correspond to the ribs 24 and 25 formed in the upper case 11, and first bosses 36 and 37 for screwing the respective side plates 13 and 14 are provided in a protruding manner in portions facing to rear ends of the respective ribs 34 and 35. Further, a second boss 38 is provided in a protruding manner in a portion corresponding to the boss 28 formed in the upper case 11 in an inner surface of the bottom plate 31. Further, a setting portion 39 of the management memory apparatus 6 is formed in a portion corresponding to the setting portion 29 formed in the upper case 11 in the partition wall 32 hanged down from the rear line of the bottom plate 31.

The upper case 11 and the lower case 12 are assembled in the box shape by confronting a lower line of the partition wall 22 and an upper line of the partition wall 32 with each other, and fastening the screw inserted into the thread hole formed in the boss 28 to the second boss 38.

The left side plate 13 is formed as a shape and a magnitude which can be inserted into a space constituted by the top plate 21, the partition wall 22 and the rib 24 of the upper case 11, and the bottom plate 31, the partition wall 32 and the rib 34 of the lower case 12, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 14. A plurality of (seven in the present embodiment) guide ribs 41 are formed in the inner surface of the left side plate 13 so as to be in parallel to a direction from a front end side to a rear end side, and a mounting hole 42 of the shutter 2 is provided in a portion having no guide rib 41. On the contrary, a spring peg projection 42 a locking one end of the first shutter spring 7 is provided in a protruding manner near a mounting hole 42 in an outer surface of the left side plate 13. Further, in upper and lower portions close to the front end of the left side plate 13, there are formed fitting concave portions 43 and 44 for fitting the fitting projection 23 formed in the upper case 11 and the fitting projection 33 formed in the lower case 12. Further, an erroneous insertion preventing portion 45 of the disc tray 4 is formed in a rear end portion of the left side plate 13, a locking pawl 46 engaged with the temporarily fitting projection 26 formed in the inner surface of the upper case 11 is formed in an upper portion of the erroneous insertion preventing portion, and a thread hole 47 fastened to the thread hole of the first boss 36 formed in the lower case 12 by the screw is provided in a lower portion thereof.

The right side plate 14 is formed as a shape and a magnitude which can be inserted into a space constituted by the top plate 21, the partition wall 22 and the rib 25 of the upper case 11, and the bottom plate 31, the partition wall 32 and the rib 35 of the lower case 12, as shown in FIGS. 15 to 19. The same number of guide ribs 51 as the guide ribs 41 are formed at the corresponding positions to the guide ribs 41 formed in the inner surface of the left side plate 13, in the inner surface of the right side plate 14, and a mounting hole 52 of the shutter 2 is provided in a portion having no guide rib 51. On the contrary, an outer surface of the right side plate 14 is provided with a mounting projection 52 a of the shutter lock member 3 and a spring peg projection 52 a locking one end of the second shutter spring 8 in accordance with a predetermined arrangement. Further, in upper and lower portions close to the front end of the right side plate 14, there are formed fitting concave portions 53 and 54 for fitting the fitting projection 23 formed in the upper case 11 and the fitting projection 33 formed in the lower case 12. Further, an erroneous insertion preventing portion 55 of the disc tray 4 is formed in a rear end portion of the right side plate 14, a locking pawl 56 engaged with the temporarily fitting projection 27 formed in the inner surface of the upper case 11 is formed in an upper portion of the erroneous insertion preventing portion, and a thread hole 57 fastened to the thread hole of the first boss 37 formed in the lower case 12 by the screw is provided in a lower portion thereof. In this case, reference numeral 58 in the drawing denotes a tray locking portion for stably holding the disc tray 4 accommodated within the cartridge case 1. The tray locking portion 58 is constituted by an elastic piece 58 a formed by cutting three sides of the right side plate 14, and a locking pawl 58 b formed in a leading end portion of the elastic piece 58 a, and is structured such that the locking pawl 58 b is arranged within a tray inserting space formed between the guide ribs 51. In this case, the right side plate 14 is formed such that an entire length thereof is slightly longer than the left side plate 13.

The left side plate 13 is inserted from the opening portion 1 a along an inner surface of a left side of the integrally assembled upper case 11 and lower case 12, as shown in FIG. 20. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 21, the fitting projection 23 formed in the upper case 11 and the fitting projection 33 formed in the lower case 12 are slidably fitted to the fitting concave portions 43 and 44 formed in the upper and lower portions close to the front end of the left side plate 13, and the upper case 11, the lower case 12 and the left side plate 13 are integrally connected in the portion closer to the opening portion 1 a than the center portion of the cartridge case 1. If the left side plate 13 is inserted to a predetermined position, the locking pawl 46 formed in the rear end portion of the left side plate 13 is engaged with the temporarily fitting projection 26 formed in the inner surface of the upper case 11, and the formed position of the thread hole 47 provided in the rear end portion of the left side plate 13 and the formed position of the first boss 36 provided in the lower case 12 are automatically coincided. Accordingly, the left side plate 13 can be fixed to the lower case 12 by inserting the screw inserted to the thread hole of the first boss 36 into the thread hole 47 so as to fasten.

On the other hand, the right side plate 14 is inserted from the opening portion 1 a along the inner surface of the right side of the integrally assembled upper case 11 and lower case 12, as shown in FIG. 20. Accordingly, the fitting projection 23 formed in the upper case 11 and the fitting projection 33 formed in the lower case 12 are slidably fitted respectively into the fitting concave portions 53 and 54 formed in the upper and lower portions close to the front end of the right side plate 13, and the upper case 11, the lower case 12 and the right side plate 14 are integrally connected in the portion closer to the opening portion 1 a than the center portion of the cartridge case 1. If the right side plate 14 is inserted to a predetermined position, the locking pawl 56 formed in the rear end portion of the right side plate 14 is engaged with the temporarily fixing projection 27 formed in the inner surface of the upper case 11, and the formed position of the thread hole 57 provided in the rear end portion of the right side plate 14 and the formed position of the first boss 37 provided in the lower case 12 are automatically coincided. Accordingly, it is possible to fix the right side plate 14 to the lower case 12 by inserting the screw inserted to the thread hole of the first boss 37 into the thread hole 57 so as to fasten. Therefore, the assembly of the cartridge 1 is finished.

The disc tray 4 is formed in an approximately quadrangular shape capable of being accommodated within the cartridge case 1 in an outer shape, as shown in FIG. 22. Further, in the disc tray 4, a hook 4 a for engaging a tray operating arm provided in a disc drive apparatus (not shown) is formed in a right corner portion in a front end, and erroneous insertion preventing notches 4 b and 4 c having different lengths are formed in both left and right corner portions in a rear end. A difference of the lengths of the notches 4 b and 4 c is set to a difference of the lengths of the left side plate 13 and the right side plate 14. The disc tray 4 in accordance with the present embodiment has a thick portion 62 in which a disc accommodating concave portion 61 is formed, and a thin portion 63 held by the guide ribs 41 and 51 formed in the left and right side plates 13 and 14, and an approximately triangular engagement concave portion 4 d for engaging a locking pawl 58 b formed in the right side plate 14 is formed in a rear portion of the right thin portion 63. The disc tray in accordance with the present embodiment is also formed by an injection molded produce of a plastic.

As shown in FIG. 23, a thickness h1 of the thick portion 62 is set to a value (h1<h5+h6) which is slightly smaller than a total of a dimension h5 of a gap between two guide ribs 41 and 51 arranged adjacently with each other and a thickness h6 of one guide ribs 41 and 51. Further, the thickness h2 of the thin portion 63 is set to a value (h2<h5) which is slightly smaller than the dimension of the gap between two guide ribs 41 and 51 arranged adjacently with each other. The value (h5+h6−h1) and the value (h5−h2) are approximately set while taking into consideration a clearance necessary for smoothly sliding the disc tray 4, a deformation with age and the like. In this case, the value h5 is set to a value which is equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the information recording disc 5, and the value h6 is set while taking into consideration a strength and a formability of the guide ribs 41 and 51. Further, a magnitude of a step h3 formed between an upper surface of the thick portion 62 and an upper surface of the thin portion 63 and a magnitude of a step h4 formed between a lower surface of the thick portion 62 and a lower surface of the thin portion 63 are set in such a manner that the information recording disc 5 is arranged within the gap between two guide rigs 41 and 51 arranged adjacently with each other, while taking into consideration the thickness of the information recording disc 5 and a thickness of a disc holding portion (mentioned below) formed in the disc accommodating concave portion 61.

The disc accommodating concave portion 61 is formed by a circular peripheral wall 64 structured such that a diameter is larger than a diameter of the information recording disc 5 and a depth is larger than the thickness of the information recording disc 5, and a rib-shaped disc holding portion 65 protruded inward from a lower side of the peripheral wall 64, and a part of the disc holding portion 65 is provided with a notch 66 reaching the thin portion 63. A protruding amount s of the disc holding portion 65 from the peripheral wall 64 is set such that the disc holding portion 65 is brought into contact only with an outer peripheral non-recording region of the information recording disc 5. In a portion of the peripheral wall 64 corresponding to the notch 66, there is formed an inverse slope portion 67 in which a diameter of the peripheral wall 64 is increased toward the disc holding portion 65 side from the opening surface side of the peripheral wall 64, as a drop preventing portion of the information recording disc 5, as shown in FIG. 24. On the contrary, in the other portions, it is formed in a direction in which a slope of the peripheral wall 64 corresponds to a draft angle necessary for injection molding the disc tray 4, that is, in a direction in which the diameter of the peripheral wall 64 becomes smaller toward the disc holding portion 65 side from the opening surface side of the peripheral wall 64, as shown in FIG. 25.

The disc tray 4 is accommodated within the cartridge case 1 in a state in which the information recording disc 5 is accommodated within the disc accommodating concave portion 61, as shown in FIG. 26. In the case that the disc tray 4 is accommodated within the cartridge case 1 so as to be directed to a correct direction, the erroneous insertion preventing portion 45 formed in the left side plate 13 and the erroneous insertion preventing portion 55 formed in the right side plate 14 can be inserted to the end portions of the notches 4 b and 4 c formed in the rear end of the disc tray 4, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to insert the disc tray 4 to a predetermined position within the cartridge case 1 so as to be accommodated. Further, in this case, since the locking pawl 58 b formed in the right side plate 14 is engaged with the engagement concave portion n4 d formed in the disc tray 4, it is possible to prevent the disc tray 4 from carelessly falling away from the cartridge case 1. On the contrary, in the case that the disc tray 4 is accommodated within the cartridge case 1 so as to be directed to an erroneous direction, the corner portion of the disc tray 4 is brought into contact with the erroneous insertion preventing portion 45 formed in the left side plate 13. Accordingly, it is possible to automatically prevent a further insertion. The disc tray 4 inserted into the cartridge case 1 toward the correct direction is mounted on each of the guide ribs 41 and 51 in which the thin portion 63 is formed in the cartridge case 1, as shown in FIG. 27, and an outer peripheral portion of the information recording disc 5 is arranged within the gap between two guide ribs 41 and 51 arranged adjacently with each other. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a reduction of the width of the cartridge case 1.

In the disc tray 4 in accordance with the present embodiment, since the inverse slope portions 67 are formed in the corresponding portion to the notch 66 in the peripheral wall 65, in the case that the cartridge case 1 is vertically arranged in a state in which each of the inverse slope portions 67 is directed in a vertical direction, an outer peripheral edge portion of the information recording disc 5 is brought into contact with the inverse slope portion 67 in a lower side, as shown in FIG. 28. Then, there is generated a moment M rotating the information recording disc 5 in a direction in which the information recording disc 5 is closely attached to the disc holding portion 65 of the disc tray 4. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the information recording disc 5 from falling away from the disc accommodating concave portion 61, and it is possible to improve a practicability and a general-purpose property of the disc cartridge.

The information recording disc 5 is structured such that a desired thin film including an information recording film is formed on one surface or both surfaces of a disc substrate. As the information recording film, it is possible to form a known optional information recording film, for example, a magnetic recording film, an optical recording film, a magneto-optic disc or the like.

The management memory apparatus 6 records an attribute and the like of the information recording disc 5 accommodated within the disc cartridge, can conveniently use the disc cartridge, and can employ a radio communication tag (RFID) and the like. The management memory apparatus 6 is set within the setting portions 29 and 39 formed in the rear end portions of the upper case 11 and the lower case 12.

The shutter 2 is constituted by an upper surface portion 71 covering an upper surface of the cartridge case 1, a front surface portion 72 covering a front surface of the cartridge case 1, and a side surface portion 73 covering a side surface of the cartridge case 1, as shown in FIGS. 29, 32 and 33. In an inner surface of the side surface portion 73, there is formed in a protruding manner a support shaft 74 rotatably inserted to the mounting holes 42 and 52 provided in the left side plate 13 and the right side plate 14 so as to face to each other. Further, a spring peg projection 75 locking one end of the first shutter spring 7 is provided in a protruding manner in an inner surface of the side surface portion 73 in the left side, and an engagement projection 76 for detachably engaging the shutter lock member 3 mentioned below is provided in a protruding manner in an inner surface of the side surface portion 73 in the right side. The shutter 2 in accordance with the present embodiment is attached to the front surface portion of the cartridge case 1 so as to freely swirl by inserting the support shaft 74 to the mounting holes 42 and 52. The first shutter spring 7 is provided in a tensional manner between the spring peg projection 75 and the spring peg projection 42 a provided in a protruding manner in the outer surface of the left side plate 13, and always energizes the shutter 2 in an opening direction. The shutter 2 in accordance with the present embodiment is also formed by the injection molded product of the plastic.

The shutter lock member 3 is formed by a plate-like main body portion 81, an operating portion risen up outward from a front end lower portion of the main body portion 81, an approximately rod-like shutter locking portion 83 protruded to a front side of the main body portion 81 from an upper line of the main body portion 81, and an engagement portion 84 of the second shutter spring 8 protruded to a rear side from a rear end of the main body portion 81, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31. In the main body portion 81, there are formed an L-shaped mounting hole 85, and an engagement portion 86 of the mounting projection 52 a formed in the right side plate 14. The shutter lock member 3 in accordance with the present embodiment is attached to the right side plate 14 so as to be movable forward and backward as shown in FIGS. 32 and 33, by inserting the mounting projection 52 a formed in the right side plate 14 to a vertical line portion 85 a of the L-shaped mounting hole 85, thereafter moving the mounting projection 52 a to a horizontal line portion 85 b of the L-shaped mounting hole 85 and engaging a leading end portion thereof with the engagement portion 86. The second shutter spring 8 is provided in a tensional manner between the spring peg projection 52 b formed in the right side plate 14 and the engagement portion 84 formed in the shutter lock member 3, and always energizes the shutter lock member 3 to the opening portion 1 a side. The shutter lock member 3 in accordance with the present embodiment is also formed by the injection molded product of the plastic.

When it is not used, the shutter lock member 3 is moved to the opening portion 1 a side of the cartridge case 1 by the elastic force of the second shutter spring 8, as shown in FIG. 32, and the shutter locking portion 83 is engaged with the engagement projection 76 formed in the shutter 2. Accordingly, the shutter 2 is held in a closed state against the elastic force of the first shutter spring 7, and it is possible to prevent a foreign material or the like from making an intrusion into the cartridge case 1 from the opening portion 1 a.

If the disc cartridge is installed to the disc drive apparatus (not shown), a canceling portion provided within the disc drive apparatus pushes the operating portion 82 of the shutter lock member 3 to a rear side, as shown in FIG. 33, thereby moving the shutter lock member 3 to the rear side of the cartridge case 1 against the elastic force of the second shutter spring 8. Accordingly, the engagement between the engagement projection 76 formed in the shutter 2 and the shutter locking portion 83 formed in the shutter lock member 3 is cancelled, and the shutter 2 comes to an open state by the elastic force of the first shutter spring 7. It is possible to take out the disc tray 4 from the inner side of the cartridge case 1 through the opening portion 1 a and it is possible to accommodate the disc tray 4 within the cartridge case 1 from the disc drive apparatus.

Since the disc cartridge in accordance with the present embodiment is structured by forming the thick portion 62 in which the disc accommodating concave portion 61 is formed and the thin portion 63 held by the guide ribs 41 and 51 formed in the cartridge case 1 in the disc tray 4, and making the difference between the thickness of the thick portion 62 and the thickness of the thin portion 63 smaller than the thickness of the guide ribs 41 and 51, it is possible to improve an accommodating density of the disc tray 4 in comparison with the case that the thin portion 63 is not formed in the disc tray 4. Further, since the step is formed between the upper surface of the thick portion 62 and the upper surface of the thin portion 63, and between the lower surface of the thick portion 62 and the lower surface of the thin portion 63, it is possible to arrange the information recording disc 5 at an intermediate position between two guide ribs 41 and 51, it is possible to prevent collation between the guide ribs 41 and 51 and the information recording disc 5, and it is possible to improve a storage stability of the information recording disc 5. Further, since the depth of the disc accommodating concave portion 61 is made larger than the thickness of the information recording disc 5, the other disc tray 4 is hard to be brought into contact with the recording surface of the information recording disc 5 mounted in one disc tray 4, and the storage stability of the information recording disc 5 can be improved from this point. Further, since the notch 66 reaching the thin portion 63 is provided in a part of the disc holding portion 65, it is possible to arrange the leading end portions of the guide ribs 41 and 51 within the notch 66, and it is possible to achieve a downsizing on the basis of the reduction of the width of the cartridge.

In this case, in the embodiment mentioned above, the inverse slope portion 67 is formed as the drop preventing portion of the information recording disc 5, however, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this, but one or a plurality of (four in an example in FIG. 34) drop preventing projection 91 may be formed in a part of the peripheral wall 64 constituting the disc accommodating concave portion 61, as shown in FIGS. 34 and 35. As mentioned above, in the case that the drop preventing projection 91 is formed as the drop preventing portion in the peripheral wall 64, it is possible to prevent the information recording disc 5 from falling away from the disc 4 not only in the case that the cartridge case 1 is vertically arranged in a state in which the notch 66 is directed in the vertical direction, but also in the case that the cartridge case 1 is vertically arranged in a state in which the notch 66 is directed in a lateral direction. Accordingly, it is possible to further improve the practicability and the general-purpose property of this kind of disc cartridge.

Further, in the embodiment mentioned above, the description is given by exemplifying the disc cartridge in which the disc tray 4 mounting the information recording disc 5 thereon is held by the guide ribs 41 an d51 formed in the side plates 13 and 14, however, the scope of the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can be applied to a disc cartridge in which the outer peripheral non-recording region of the information recording disc 5 is directly held by the guide ribs 41 and 51.

Further, in the embodiment mentioned above, the description is given by exemplifying the cartridge in which the upper and lower cases are separately structured, however, the present invention can be similarly applied to a structure in which the upper and lower cases are integrally formed in a state of being connected, as shown in FIG. 37. 

1. A cartridge comprising: a cartridge case having an opening portion; a plurality of trays accommodated within said cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through said opening portion; and guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of said cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, wherein said cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having said guide ribs, and wherein the cartridge is provided with a fitting portion integrally connecting said respective members in an upper portion and a lower portion of an accommodating area of said tray, in accordance with a fitting operation utilizing a fitting means formed between said upper case and upper ends of said right and left side plates, and between said lower case and lower ends of said right and left side plates, in a portion closer to the opening portion than a center portion of said cartridge.
 2. A cartridge comprising: a cartridge case having an opening portion; a plurality of trays accommodated within said cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through said opening portion; and guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of said cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, wherein said cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having said guide ribs, and wherein said upper case has a top plate constituting an upper face of said cartridge case, said lower case has a bottom plate constituting a lower surface of said cartridge case, a top plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of said top plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of said top plate, a bottom plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of said bottom plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of said bottom plate, and a side plate side fitting means fitting to said top plate side fitting means and said bottom plate side fitting means is formed predetermined portions of said right and left side plates, and said upper case, said lower case and said right and left side plates are integrally connected in accordance with a slide fitting.
 3. A cartridge comprising: a cartridge case having an opening portion; a plurality of trays accommodated within said cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through said opening portion; and guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of said cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, wherein said cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having said guide ribs, wherein the cartridge is provided with a fitting portion integrally connecting said respective members in an upper portion and a lower portion of an accommodating area of said tray, in accordance with a fitting operation utilizing a fitting means formed between said upper case and upper ends of said right and left side plates, and between said lower case and lower ends of said right and left side plates, in a portion closer to the opening portion than a center portion of said cartridge, and wherein said side plates fix the upper case and the lower case in accordance with a thread fastening in a depth side than the center portion of said cartridge case.
 4. A cartridge comprising: a cartridge case having an opening portion; a plurality of trays accommodated within said cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through said opening portion; and guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of said cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, wherein said cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having said guide ribs, wherein said upper case has a top plate constituting an upper face of said cartridge case, said lower case has a bottom plate constituting a lower surface of said cartridge case, a top plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of said top plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of said top plate, a bottom plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of said bottom plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of said bottom plate, and a side plate side fitting means fitting to said top plate side fitting means and said bottom plate side fitting means is formed predetermined portions of said right and left side plates, and said upper case, said lower case and said right and left side plates are integrally connected in accordance with a slide fitting, and wherein said side plates fix the upper case and the lower case in accordance with a thread fastening in a depth side than the center portion of said cartridge case.
 5. A cartridge comprising: a cartridge case having an opening portion; a plurality of trays accommodated within said cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through said opening portion; and guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of said cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, wherein said cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having said guide ribs, wherein the cartridge is provided with a fitting portion integrally connecting said respective members in an upper portion and a lower portion of an accommodating area of said tray, in accordance with a fitting operation utilizing a fitting means formed between said upper case and upper ends of said right and left side plates, and between said lower case and lower ends of said right and left side plates, in a portion closer to the opening portion than a center portion of said cartridge, and wherein said side plates are fitted to the upper case and the lower case by the fitting means of said side plates, are fitted to the projection portions within the case, and fix in accordance with a thread fastening from any one of the upper and lower cases, in a depth side than the center portion of said cartridge case.
 6. A cartridge comprising: a cartridge case having an opening portion; a plurality of trays accommodated within said cartridge case so as to freely come in and out through said opening portion; and guide ribs formed in an inner side surface of said cartridge case in parallel to each other at a predetermined pitch, wherein said cartridge case is constituted by an upper case, a lower case and right and left side plates having said guide ribs, wherein said upper case has a top plate constituting an upper face of said cartridge case, said lower case has a bottom plate constituting a lower surface of said cartridge case, a top plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of said top plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of said top plate, a bottom plate side fitting means having a thinner thickness than a thickness of said bottom plate is formed in end surfaces in both right and left sides of said bottom plate, and a side plate side fitting means fitting to said top plate side fitting means and said bottom plate side fitting means is formed predetermined portions of said right and left side plates, and said upper case, said lower case and said right and left side plates are integrally connected in accordance with a slide fitting, and wherein said side plates are fitted to the upper case and the lower case by the fitting means of said side plates, are fitted to the projection portions within the case, and fix in accordance with a thread fastening from any one of the upper and lower cases, in a depth side than the center portion of said cartridge case.
 7. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cartridge case is integrally formed in a state in which the upper case and the lower case are connected.
 8. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shutter opening and closing said opening portion is provided in a front end portion of said cartridge case.
 9. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cartridge case is integrally formed in a state in which the upper case and the lower case are connected, and a shutter opening and closing said opening portion is provided in a front end portion of said cartridge case.
 10. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said tray holds an information recording medium.
 11. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an information recording medium is held in place of said tray by said side plate.
 12. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cartridge case is integrally formed in a state in which the upper case and the lower case are connected, and said tray holds an information recording medium.
 13. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cartridge case is integrally formed in a state in which the upper case and the lower case are connected, and an information recording medium is held in place of said tray by said side plate.
 14. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shutter opening and closing said opening portion is provided in a front end portion of said cartridge case, and said tray holds an information recording medium.
 15. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shutter opening and closing said opening portion is provided in a front end portion of said cartridge case, and an information recording medium is held in place of said tray by said side plate.
 16. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shutter opening and closing said opening portion is provided in a front end portion of said cartridge case, said cartridge case is integrally formed in a state in which the upper case and the lower case are connected, and said tray holds an information recording medium.
 17. A cartridge as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a shutter opening and closing said opening portion is provided in a front end portion of said cartridge case, said cartridge case is integrally formed in a state in which the upper case and the lower case are connected, and an information recording medium is held in place of said tray by said side plate. 